THE ASKEW SISTERS – Enclosure (Oakmere Music OMCD001)

EnclosureEnclosure is the fourth album from The Askew Sisters, five years since the release of the award winning In the Air Or The Earth.

Both sisters have been busy with other projects in between albums, with Hazel working with Lady Maisery and The Coven. Emily through her solo album Alchemy has been working with early music with the likes of Jamie Roberts, Simon Whittaker and also John Dipper, who recorded and co-produced Enclosure with Emily and Hazel.

The album has a very traditional feel, but somehow feels modern as well. I must confess to being more on the contemporary side of folk, but I really enjoyed the arrangements whether it be fiddle and melodeon with Hazel’s haunting voice on ‘The Wounded Hussar’ or the singing of Hazel with the cello and harmonium on ‘My Father Built Me a Pretty Tower’.

There is a wonderful medley combining waltzes, county dance and a minuet in ‘Zodiac/Joy After Sorrow/Minoway’. ‘London’s Loyalty /Heady Days’ is a second one which came from a 1651 hornpipe and the excitement of creating new music.

I especially enjoyed their take on the tale of Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight with “Castle By The Sea”, having originally heard the story on Kadia’s Outlandish Collection EP.

This album certainly grew on me the more I listened to it and I’m very tempted to make room in the diary to go to the album launch at Cecil Sharp House on 24th April. If I don’t make it I’ll just have to content myself with seeing Hazel with Lady Maisery in Harwell on 10th May.

Duncan Chappell

Artist’s website: www.askewsisters.co.uk

‘Goose & Common’ – official video: